BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX is the injectable that started it all! This FDA-approved cosmetic has been used by doctors around the world for more than two decades. It led to the development of other neuromodulators, including Dysport and Xeomin, and gained notoriety very quickly as a major game-changer in the area of rejuvenative medicine.

BOTOX is made using clostridium botulinum, a bacteria found in the soil. Clostridium botulinum type A, used in BOTOX® Cosmetic, affects muscle movement when introduced locally. For example, when we inject the muscles that are used to frown, BOTOX interferes with the intensity of that movement. It does so by interrupting the neurotransmission that happens between the brain and the muscle. Without the chemical acetylcholine, the muscle cannot fully contract. Without full contraction, the muscle cannot pull on the skin. Within five to seven days of injection, the effects of BOTOX can be seen on a cosmetic level in the form of reduced lines and creases.

While BOTOX is very well-known by name, many people ask "what can BOTOX treat?" Since its early FDA approval, this drug has become widely used for a wide variety of cosmetic concerns that are caused by dynamic facial movement. These include:

• Forehead wrinkles
• Descending eyebrows causing hooded upper eyelids
• Frown lines
• Crow's feet
• Bunny lines at the top of the nose
• Chin dimpling
• Thin upper lip (BOTOX Lip Flip)
• Wide jawline caused by teeth clenching or grinding (bruxism)
• Vertical bands and horizontal lines on the neck

Through multiple studies and years of use, it's been determined that BOTOX injections are very safe for most people. Side effects are generally limited to the following, which resolve within a few hours to a few days:

• Mild redness or swelling at injection sites
• Low-grade soreness or tenderness in the treatment area
• Headache
• Flu-like symptoms, such as aching
• Eyebrow or eyelid drooping

There is a very low risk of BOTOX spreading from the intended treatment area. To reduce this risk, you're advised to avoid lying down or working out for four or more hours after receiving your treatment.

The results of your BOTOX injections can last from three to six months in all. That said, there are multiple factors that contribute to the lifespan of this injectable cosmetic. The primary factor is simply your own unique biology. Your body will break down the wrinkle-reducing protein naturally over time. On average, patients repeat BOTOX injections about every four months. With this interval, the severity of dynamic wrinkles can remain under control year after year.

The results of BOTOX are temporary. After three to six months, the signs of the dynamic wrinkles you had before your last treatment will begin to return. There are no adverse side effects to worry about if you stop receiving BOTOX. All effects are cosmetic. You can resume injectable treatment at any time you wish, also without incurring adverse side effects.